Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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Title: Fish in a Tree

Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Published By: Nancy Paulsen Books (2015)

Synopsis: Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike. (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

This was such a beautiful book!

The author is such a good writer. The pages and chapters flowed so wonderfully and the story was perfectly paced; as I traveled along with Ally, it never once felt drawn out. This story was gorgeous, simply following Ally in a few weeks of her life as she learns that she isn’t as dumb as she thinks, and that things can get better just by asking for help. The messages were portrayed with excellence, straight-out, but not too much in your face.

The characters were so amazing and so relatable: anybody, young or old, will come to love Ally by the end of this book. And not only that; you love Keisha for her quirkiness, and Albert for his smarts, and you hate Shay right along with Ally. Travis, Ally’s brother, was written well too, a good role model for Ally and still his own character.
Ally as a character was so relatable and easy to love. She seemed so real, as if I would shut the book and then go out and find her in everyday life; in fact, it’s hard to believe she’s only a fictional character. I loved following her around her everyday life, through good times and struggles, as she tries to find her way throughout the world.

Negative Content:

None

Overall:

I cannot think of anything I disliked about this book. Beautifully painted, this is a book you won’t regret reading!

Rating: 4.0

Recommended to: Ages 10+

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